It was a packed house Tuesday at the Rock Hall Municipal Building to hear six candidates seeking two Town Council seats and three candidates seeking the Mayor’s seat.
The mayor’s seat was recently vacated by the departure of Jay Jacobs, who won his election bid to the 36th District in the Maryland House of Delegates last November. Councilwoman Rosalie Kuechler was appointed to fill Jacob’s seat until the May 7 election.
Kuechler’s seat was vacated too when she moved up to serve as acting Mayor. Susan Francis was appointed to Kuechler’s seat and is trying to win it in her own right. John Toulson’s Council seat is up for re-election, and Mayoral candidate Robert Willis will retain his council seat through 2013 should he lose on May 7.
The candidate forum was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Kent County and the Greater Rock Hall Business Association. Town residents filled the hall beyond the number of seats and the overflow congregated in the back to hear candidates make their case for election.
The candidates disagreed on very little–all stating the need to be fiscally responsible in a time of severe state funding cuts and to hold the line on taxes. The question that got the most airtime from candidates was how to deal with the massive cuts to Rock Hall’s share of State Highway User Revenue. In years past the revenue was apportioned to counties and municipalities based on the number of miles of road and the number of tagged vehicles in the jurisdictions. Rock Hall’s share was around $135,000–but was cut to a mere 4,000 for 2011. This dismal figure was later bolstered by a one-time $20,000 subsidy that the Maryland Municipal League lobbied for in the last legislative session in Annapolis.
“We’re just going to have to set aside working on our roads,” Kuechler said. “We haven’t been able repair this year or last year…and we can not set aside enough money in the budget… the grant we received for our police department was also cut, but we have to go to our budget for that.”
Mayoral candidate Robert Willis said the town must manage the road repairs in a manner to avoid tax increases.
“As we look at these roads, we are going to have to really determine our repairs and probably stretch them out,” Willis said. “I don’t think anyone is going to sit here and say we’re going to raise taxes…I’m certainly not going to do it. I think we can be responsible in how we’re going to go forth and make certain our roads are in good working order.”
The anti-tax message carried through after the forum and not one candidate would consider raising taxes under any circumstances to make up for budget shortfalls.
Willis summed up the echoes of many other candidates and said that the town’s budget from the current revenue stream could meet the needs of the town with proper planning and prioritization.
“Absolutely not will I consider any tax increases,” Willis said. “I am familiar with the budget we are working with today… I have personally co-authored ten budgets with the past Mayor, and I think our record speaks to the financial responsibility we’ve shown the town. [We are going to need to prioritize our projects] and determine which projects are going to be higher on the scale… at some point we’re going to have to find out where to get the money [in our current budget].”
When asked what the town would do in the face of even more state budget cuts, Willis replied that the town could go it alone if it had to.
“There’s no more the state can take from us at this point, we are self sufficient [with revenue] from person property taxes and utility fees,” Willis said. “Outside of that, the State can do very little to us unless they start taking our personal property tax money away.”
The town’s budget is currently around $1.8 million.
All the candidates swore to fiercely defend the culture and traditions of Rock Hall–while using every economic development tool necessary to support local business and attract more tourist dollars to the town.
MD Eastern Shore says
“Outside of that, the State can do very little to us unless they start taking our personal property tax money away.”
Rest assured, they’re already thinking about it. While you were at this meeting, they were in your house looking for change under the sofa cushions. They’ve been vacuuming change out of your car ashtray for years. Under no circumstances should the people (of either party) in Annapolis be regarded as benevolent. It’s all about them.
Inquiring Mind says
What about making sure we collect all taxes due? Last week’s paper was full of overdue property taxes – some of them from the candidates themselves, or immediate family members. How can you run for an office, asking to take responsibility for the town budget, while you haven’t paid your own taxes? That doesn’t show very good financial management skills in my opinion. I paid my taxes, why should I vote for a candidate who has not?
MD Eastern Shore says
BEEF!
Beefalo says
Dear Inquiring Mind- I paid my property taxes too. Stop hiding behind your screen name and your computer monitor. Instead of posting anonymous comments on the internet; why not show a little bit of courage and confront those with whom you have an issue with personally. If you are scared of the truth say your scared! No one is goiing to take you seriously until you are not afraid to openly reveal your identity. There are many inquiring minds around here; do they know the facts or are they trying to throw red herrings in the honest working peoples path???